Blooper

When Colonel Joe ejects the and the parachute opens, it's all white. When he is shown descending, the parachute is two-toned.

The aircraft carrier tracking the mantis is shown as the USS Antietam (CV-36) and then as the USS Oriskany (CV-34). During the launch from the carrier, the planes are shown launching from the USS Midway (CV-41). The ship's number is visible in all three instances.

As the mantis makes its way to the station, its claws alternate between up and down between shots.

Since insects are cold-blooded - just like reptiles - they'd be unable to move about (much less fly) in the cold temperatures of the polar regions.

Paleontologist Ned remarks that it's not impossible for the mantis to fly at speeds of 200 mph since "a deer fly does 600 mph." This most likely refers to the fly's wing speed, not the actual speed of travel.

At one point the paleontologist is holding a block of amber. He says it contains a giant ant. But, as he rotates it in his hand you can clearly see it is a rhinoceros beetle.

When the soldiers check out the ruins of the weather station, the plane is shown with the engine off. Planes north of the arctic circle normally keep their engines running during short stops to prevent the engine oil from freezing and making re-starting difficult to impossible.

The praying mantis makes roaring noises from time to time. Like most insects, praying mantises haven't any means of deliberately communicating via sound.

In the tunnel, one of the praying mantis' claws shakes as if it is made of rubber.

A five foot chunk of the mantis' foreleg is broken off, but in all later (even close-up) scenes the mantis is 100% intact.

Two shots from inside a jet plane, just after the 52 minute mark, are flipped laterally, as can be seen by the name STULL on the back of the pilot's helmet appearing in reverse.

As they are wetting down the tarpaulin at the entrance to the tunnel, an ambulance goes through the scene without its aerial. The base is clearly visible in front of the red cross on the roof.

When the man goes to play the song on the record player, the music begins before he gets the arm all the way down.

The tunnel in which the mantis makes its last stand is shown as the Manhattan Tunnel above its entrance. There is no Manhattan Tunnel in NYC - just the Brooklyn Battery, Queens Midtown, Holland and Lincoln Tunnels.

At 1:00 there is a sign reading: ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE ANACOSTIA, D.C. In reality Andrews Air Force Base is in Prince George's County, Maryland.

As William Hopper and Alix Talton are leaving Hopper's office, the shadow of the microphone and boom can be seen beside them.

The enlisted personnel in several scenes are clearly US airmen, but are addressed as army soldiers, e.g. calling an airman first class a corporal in the scene where Alix Talton is initially introduced to the men in the recreation hall.

When Marge Blain thumbs through pictures in the book of possible culprits, seen is the word giant squid and a picture of one. She says jelly fish.